The 37-year-old Hornish has made two Xfinity starts at Mid-Ohio, finishing third in the inaugural event in 2013 and 30th the following year after starting from the pole and having engine problems.

Road racer Owen Kelly qualified second in Gibbs' No. 18 Toyota, and Ryan Blaney was third in a Team Penske Ford. Points leader Elliott Sadler was fourth in his JR Motorsports Chevrolet, followed by Gibbs drivers Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones.

Brazil's Nelson Piquet Jr., was ninth in Biagi DenBeste Racing's No. 98 Ford. He won a series event at Road America in 2012.

To honor late dirt-track racer Bryan Clauson, the teams are running "BC" decals on the cars. The 27-year-old Clauson died Sunday night from injuries sustained in a crash in Kansas.